Container having tear-out opening means



Sept. 17, 1968 J. 5. BOZEK I CONTAINER HAVING TEAR-OUT OPENING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1966 a v \(IIIIIII lilxxaaw i W0 h m S m 0 a J mil/M MY M Sept. 17, 1968 J- 5. BOZEK CONTAINER HAVING TEAR-OU'T' OPENING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1966 INVENTOR JOHN SBOZEK WTTORNEYS BY L/AUM W Sept. 17, 1968 J. 5, BOZEK 3,401,821

CONTAINER HAVING TEAR-OUT OPENING MEANS Filed May 3, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN SBbz g ORNEYS 3,401,821 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 ice 3,401,821 CONTAINER HAVING TEAR-OUT OPENING MEANS John S. Bozek, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 3, 1966, Ser. No. 547,239 14 Claims. (Cl. 22054) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an easy opening container panel construction wherein an opening is provided and an insert, preferably formed of plastic, is sealed to the panel in a position to close the opening. The portion of the panel surrounding the opening is formed to define a seat in which the insert is readily positioned with the seat cooperating to define a tear out portion of the insert. The insert may have either an integral or a separately formed pull tab.

Specification This invention relates in general to new and useful improvement in containers, more particularly to a novel container end of the easy opening type.

Although easy opening containers have been readily accepted by the public, they have many deficiencies. In the first place, they are difliciult to open inasmuch as metal must be ruptured and torn away in the opening thereof, secondly, the removable panel portion which is torn from a can end in the opening of the can has sharp edges and when thrown on the ground or otherwise improperly disposed of remains as a nuisance on which an individual may be readily cut. In addition, when the removable panel portion is torn from a can end, the resultant opening in the can end has ,a sharp peripheral border on which the user of the can may be readily cut.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel container end which overcomes the foregoing deficiencies.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to preform a container end with an opening having no exposed raw edges, and then applying to the can end a closure member which is formed of plastic material and which may be readily bonded to the Can end to effect the scaling of the opening therein.

It will be readily apparent that when the closure member is formed of a plastic material, it may be more readily torn than metal. Inasmuch as the removable part of the can end is formed of plastic, it no longer is a nuisance in that it does not have sharp edges on which a person may be cut. Furthermore, because the dispensing opening is formed in part by the closure member after the removable portion thereof is torn therefrom, and the remaining portion of the closure member masks any raw edge that did exist on the can end, it will be seen that there is no longer a possibility that a user of the opened can may cut himself on .a raw edge of the can surrounding the dispensing opening formed therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel easy opening can end which includes a plastic closure member and wherein a breaking or rupturing of an intermediate part of a panel is no longer required in the opening of the associated can in that the removable portion is defined solely by a U-shaped weakening line and the removal process is all a tearing as opposed to an initial breaking.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top fragmentary perspective view of a can incorporating a can end formed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the can end of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is .an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of can end before the closure member is applied thereto.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 through the can end of FIGURE 6 with the closure member applied thereto.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of an end of a can incorporating a modification of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 10'10 of FIG- URE 8.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away for purposes of clarity and shows an initial step in opening the can.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of still another form of the invention.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper end of a can incorporating still another form of the invention.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken from along the line 1515 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1616 of FIGURE 15.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a can which is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The can 10 is formed of a conventional can body 11 to which there is secured a can end formed in accordance with this invention, the can end being generally referred to by the numeral 12. The cam end 12 is secured to the can body 11 by means of a double seam 13 and includes an end panel 14.

Starting generally at the center of the end panel 14 and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the end panel 14 is severed and deformed to define an elongated opening 15. As is shown best in FIGURE 5, the opening 15 is defined along two sides and one end thereof by a peripheral flange 16 which faces downwardly or internally of the can 10. Immediately adjacent the flange 16, the metal of the end panel 14 is outwardly offset to define a seat 17 which extends along two sides and one end of the opening 15. The metal of the seat 17 is connected to the adjacent portion of the end panel 14 by a sloping flange 18.

It is also to be noted that at the-opposite end of the opening 15 from that defined by the peripheral flange 16, the end panel 14 is depressed to define a ramp 20. The ramp 20 slopes upwardly or outwardly from the opening 15, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2. The ramp 20 is generally channel shaped in cross section and is of a width corresponding generally to the Width of the space between the remote edges of the seat 17.

The can end 12 also includes a closure member which is generally referred to by the numeral 21. The closure member 21 includes an elongated closure panel 22 having a width which corresponds to the width of the ramp and being otherwise dimensioned to snugly seat on the seat 17. When the closure panel 22 is properly applied to the end panel 14, the peripheral flange 16 is embedded in the external surface of the closure panel 22, as at 23. It will be understood that the peripheral flange 16 may either be pressed into the material of the closure panel 22 during the application of the closure panel, or the closure panel 22 may be pregrooved to receive the peripheral flange 16.

The underside of the closure panel 22 is provided with a weakening line in the form of a score line 24. The score line 24 is disposed in alignment with the peripheral flange 16, as is best shown in FIGURE 5. The score line 24 defines a removable panel portion or tear strip which is identified by the numeral 25. The removable panel portion 25 is generally defined by the peripheral flange 16.

It is to be noted that the closure panel 22, at its inner end, extends beyond the opening 15 and overlies the ramp 20. It is also to be noted that the score line 24 opens through the end of the closure panel 22 whereby the initial rupture of the closure panel 22 in the removal of the removable panel portion 25 is facilitated.

The closure member 21 also includes a pull tab in the form of a pull ring 26. The pull ring 26 has a finger receiving opening 27 and is connected to the removable panel portion 25 by a neck portion 28. The neck portion 28 is of the same width as is the removable panel 25 whereby the tearing away of the removable portion 25 from the remainder of the closure panel 22 may be occasioned without the initial rupture of a central part of the panel as is required in present easy opening contain-er structures.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5 in particular, it will be seen that there is applied to the underside of the end panel 14 sealing compound 30. The sealing compound 30 extends about the periphery of the opening 15 and bonds the closure panel 22 to the underside of the end panel 14. Thus the desired seal between the closure member and the end panel is formed.

When it is desired to open the can 10, it is merely necessary to lift the free portion of the pull ring 26. Since the closure member 21 is formed of a resilient plastic material, the pull ring 26 may be readily lifted with the closure member 21 hinging generally along the neck portion 28. After the pull ring 26 has been so lifted, one may then pass his finger through the pull ring 26 for the purpose of exerting a pulling force thereon. The pull ring 26 is then pulled radially back over the closure panel 22 to effect the tearing of the closure panel 22 along the score line 24. It is to be noted that the tearing of the closure panel 22 is facilitated by having the peripheral flange 16 aligned with the score line 24. The tearing of the closure panel 22 is readily initiated inasmuch as the score line 24 opens longitudinally through one end of the closure panel 22.

It is to be noted that when the removable panel portion 25 is torn from the remainder of the closure panel 22 that portion of the closure panel 22 remaining adhered to the underside of the end panel 14 will serve as a guard for the free edge of the peripheral flange 16. In this manner should the peripheral flange 16 have a raw edge, which it ordinarily would not, this raw edge will be masked by that portion of the closure panel 22 remaining adhered to the underside of the end panel 14.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there is illustrated a slight modification of the invention. If desired, in lieu of applying a separate sealing adhesive 30, to the assembled can end and closure member, the underside of the end panel 14 may be coated with a heat or pressure sensitive lacquer adhesive, such as adhesive 31, shown in FIGURE 6. When the can end 12 is so coated, afterthe closure member has been applied thereto, the closure member can be easily heat or pressure sealed to the can end 12 by the mere application of heat or pressure to the assembly.

At this time, it is pointed out that although the adhesive 31 has been illustrated as applied to only a limited area of the underside of the can end 12, if desired, it may be applied to the entire underside of the can end 12. It is also pointed out here that the adhesive 31 may 'be applied to the can end in the flat so that numerous can ends may be simultaneously coated while the can end is still a part of a large sheet.

In FIGURES 8 through 11 there is illustrated a slightly modified form of can end construction which is generally referred to by the numeral 40. The can end 40 is part of a can 41 and is secured to a body 42 thereof by means of a conventional double seam 43. The can end 40 is formed primarily of an end panel 44 which is defined by a circumferential shock absorbing bead '45 which is disposed immediately adjacent the double seam 43.

The can end 40 is very similar to the can end 12 in construction, but differs therefrom in several ways which will be apparent hereinafter. Starting generally at the center of the end panel 44 and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the end panel 44 is severed and deformed to define an elongated opening 46. The opening 46 is defined along two sides and one end thereof by a peripheral flange 47 which faces downwardly or internally of the can 41. Immediately adjacent the flange 47, the metal of the end panel is outwardly offset to define a seat 48 which extends along the two sides and one end of the opening 46. The metal of the seat 48 is connected to the adjacent portion of the end panel 44 by a sloping flange 49 which, at the center of the one end of the opening 46, is coextensive with the shock absorbing bead 45.

At the opposite end of the opening 46 from that defined by the peripheral flange 47, the end panel 44 is depressed to define a seat 50 which extends generally into the shock absorbing bead 45. The edge of the seat 50 extending coextensive with the opening 46 is defined by an upstanding flange 51 which is best shown in FIGURE 9. The flange 51 terminates generally in alignment with the free ends of the flange 47.

The opening 46 is closed by a closure member which is generally referred to by the numeral 52. The closure member 52 includes an elongated panel 53 which is dimensioned to snugly seat on the seat 48. As is clearly shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the peripheral flange 47 is seated within the upper surface of the panel '53 in a groove which may either be preformed or which is formed by the pressing of the flange thereinto. It is also to be noted that the flange 51 is seated in a transversely extending groove formed in the underside of the panel 53. At this time it is pointed out that the thickness of the panel 53 is substantially equal to the spacing between the upper surface of the seat 50 and the undersurface of the seat 48. This is clearly shown in FIGURES 9 and 10.

The closure member 52 also includes a pull ring 54 which extends from the panel 53 into the area of the seat 50 and is seated therein. The panel 53 has a pair of small, generally triangular, extensions 55 which overlap the pull ring 54 and which are seated on the seat 50. The panel extensions 55 are separated from the pull ring 54 along cut lines 56 which terminate at and in alignment with the ends of the flange 47.

It is to be understood that the panel 53 is suitably bonded to the underside of the end panel 44 entirely surrounding the opening 46. The panel 53 may be directly bonded to the end panel 44. However, in order to assure the proper formation of a seal, a suitable sealing compound 57 may be placed around the peripheral edge of the panel 53 in the manner specifically shown in FIGURE 9. It is also to be understood that the panel extensions 55 are bonded to the upper surface of the seat 50. This assures a complete sealing of the opening 46 by the panel 53.

In order to facilitate the opening of the can 41 by the tearing away of the panel, the underside of the panel 53 is preferably provided with a score 58 in alignment with the flange 47. The score 58 is a continuation of the slits 56.

When it is desired to open the can 41, the pull ring 54 is initially lifted, as is shown in -FIGURE 11, after which it is pulled across the opening 46 tearing out that portion of the panel 53 disposed in alignment with the flange 47. The peripheral portion of the panel 53 will remain attached to the end panel 44 and will shield the raw edge of the flange 47.

FIGURES l2 and 13 illustrate a slightly modified form of the can end of FIGURES 8 through 11. The can end of FIGURES 12 and 13 is generally identified by the numeral 60 and includes an end panel 61 having an opening 62 formed therein and generally outlined along two sides and one end thereof by means of a depending flange 63. The material of the end panel 61 connected to the flange 63 forms a seat 64 against which the upper surface of a closure panel 65 seats.

The panel 65 is part of a closure which also includes a pull ring 66. The pull ring 66 is seated in the seat 67 formed in the end panel 61 as a continuation of the opening 62. At the junction of the seat 67 with the opening 62, there is an upstanding transversely extending flange 68 which projects into the underside of the panel 65. It is to be understood that the panel 65 is seated with respect to the end panel 61 in substantially the same manner as that described with respect to the panel 53.

It is to be noted that the can end 60 differs from the can end 40- in that the portion of the seat 67 adjacent the opening 62 is relatively wide as compared to the seat 50. At the opposite ends of the upstanding flange 68 the end panel 60 is provided with apertures 69 which prevent the accidental rupture or tearing of the end panel 61 at the corners of the opening 62 defined in part by the flange 68. The openings 69 are sealed by means of panel extensions 70 which project into overlying relation with respect to the seat 67 and are secured thereto by means of adhesive 71. The panel extensions 70 are separated from the pull ring 66 along cut lines 72.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 14, 15 and 16 wherein there is illustrated still another and highly advantageous form of the invention. The easy opening can end of these figures is generally referred to by the numeral 80 and is part of a can 81. The can end 80 is secured to the can body 82 by means of a conventional double seam 83 and includes an end panel 84 which is generally defined by a shock absorbing head 85 disposed immediately adjacent the double seam 83.

The end panel 84 is provided with a simple and readily formed elongated opening which begins generally at the center of the end panel and extends radially outwardly therefrom, the opening being referred to by the numeral 86. The illustrated outline of the opening 86 is one of a trapezoid having rounded ends with the opening 86 being narrower at the end thereof adjacent the center of the can end than at the other end thereof. The opening 86 is defined by an upstanding flange construction which is generally referred to by the numeral 87. The flange construction 87, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 15, includes a depending opening defining flange 88, a horizontal flange 89, the underside of which forms a seat 90, and a sloping connecting flange 91, which is connected to the end panel 84.

The opening 86 is closed by a closure which is generally referred to by the numeral 92. The closure 92 includes a closure panel 93 which has an outline corresponding to that of the flange structure 87 and which is suitably bonded to the underside of the flange structure 87, particularly along the seat 90. The bonding of the closure panel to flange structure 87 is preferably a directly heat sealed bond between plastic material of the closure panel and a suitable protective coating 97 which is normally formed on the underside of the end panel 84. The flange 88 is embedded in the upper surface of the panel 93. In order to facilitate the tearing out of the panel 93 in alignment with the opening 86, the underside of the panel 93 is provided with a score 94 aligned with the flange 88.

The tearing out of the central portion of the panel 93 is accomplished by means of a pull ring 95 which is a part of the closure 92. The pull ring is secured to the inner end of the panel 93 substantially at the center of the can end by means of a rivet 96 which is formed integrally with the panel 93 and projects upwardly therefrom. It is to be understood that the pull ring is normally secured to the panel 93 after the panel has been bonded to the underside of the flange structure 87 The construction of the can end 80 has several highly desirable advantages. In the first place, the panel 93 having a flat surface engagement with the flange construction 87, it may be easily hermetically heat sealed to the usual plastic coating on the underside of the end panel 84. Additionally, because the plastic panel 93 is directly heat sealed to the plastic coating on the underside of the end panel 84 in the area of the flange construction 87, no plastisol or other sealing compound is needed and therefore, additional baking in an oven is eliminated. The existance of raw edges of the metal is eliminated in that all of the edges of the end panel 84 surrounding the opening 86 are embedded in the plastic panel 93. This, of course, is also true in the open condition of the can end in that a continuous band of the panel 93 will remain secured to the flange construction 87 even after the can end has been opened by the tearing out of the central portion of the panel 93.

Although numerous preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it it to be understood that additional minor variations may be made in the can ends and the closure members thereof and the relationship of the two without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An easy opening container member comprising a container panel having a preformed opening, and a closure member closing said opening, said closure member ncluding a closure panel sealed to said panel surroundmg said opening, a weakening line in said closure panel defining a removable panel portion generally aligned with said opening, and a pull tab connected to said removable panel portion, said opening being defined by a peripheral flange aligned with said weakening line for facilitating the tearing of said closure panel along said weakening line.

2. The container member of claim 1 wherein said weakening line is in the form of a score in one surface of said closure panel and said flange is embedded in the opposite surface of said closure panel.

3. easy opening container member comprising a container panel having a preformed opening, and a closure member closing said opening, said closure member including a closure panel sealed to said panel surrounding sa1d opening, a weakening line in said closure panel defining a removable panel portion generally aligned with said opening, and a pull tab connected to said removable panel portion, said container panel being externally offset surrounding said opening to define an internally facing seat for said closure panel, said closure panel being disposed internally of said container panel, and said pull tab being disposed externally of said closure panel.

4. The container member of claim 3 wherein said container panel has an externally facing ramp disposed at one end of said opening with said closure member being seated on said ramp as it passes from its internal position to its external postion.

5. The container member of claim 3 wherein a peripheral flange surrounds said seat and defines said opening, said peripheral flange being aligned wit-h said weakening line for facilitating the tearing of said closure panel along said weakening line.

6. An easy opening container member comprising a container panel having a preformed opening, and a closure member closing said opening, said closure member including a closure panel sealed to said panel surrounding said opening, a weakening line in said closure panel defining a removable panel portion generally aligned with said opening, and a pull tab connected to said removable panel portion, said container panel being internally ofiset in alignment with said opening at one end thereof for forming a seat for said pull tab.

7. The container member of claim 6 wherein said opening is defined by a peripheral flange aligned with said weakening line for facilitating the tearing of said closure panel along said weakening line, and an externally projecting flange separating said opening from said pull tab seat and being seated in the inner surface of said panel memher.

8. The container member of claim 6 wherein said panel portions have extensions disposed alongside said pull tab and sealed to said pull tab seat.

9. The container member of claim 6 wherein said panel portions have extensions disposed alongside said pull tab and sealed to said pull tab seat, and tear resistant perforations in said container panel at corners of said opening underlying and sealed by said panel extensions.

10. The container member of claim 9 wherein said opening is defined by a peripheral flange aligned with said weakening line for facilitating the tearing of said closure panel along said weakening line, and an externally projecting flange separating said opening from said pull tab seat and being seated in the inner surface of said panel member.

11. An easy opening can end of the type including an end panel, a preformed opening in said end panel defined by a flange construction which extends entirely around said opening and defines an axially inwardly facing seat, a plastic panel bonded to said end panel along said seat, a weakening line in said plastic panel defining a removable panel portion of a size to be axially pulled through said end panel opening, a pull tab overlying said end panel and projecting into partial overlying relation to said removable panel portion, and means permanently securing said pull tab to said removable panel portion.

12. The can end of claim 11 wherein said flange construction includes a peripheral flange extending axially inwardly and embedded in the outer surface of said plastic panel, said peripheral flange being aligned with said weakening line.

13. The can end of claim 11 wherein the underside of said end panel has a protective coating, and said plastic panel is directly heat sealed thereto.

14. The can end of claim 11 wherein said means permanently securing said pull tab to said plastic panel is in the form of a rivet formed integrally with said plastic panel, said rivet is disposed at the center of said end panel, and said opening is generally trapezoidal in outline with rounded ends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,272,382 9/1966 Stec 220-54 3,308,986 3/1967 Balocca et al. 220-53 3,300,081 1/1967 Muhlhoff 220-54 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

